Speaking for myself, I don't want to make my contact information available. I don't want to be contacted by random strangers claiming some sort of affinity with me because they are interested in Nichiren Buddhism. I know of people who have found other chanters through facebook, though, and they are happy with this. So I am sure that many people will be happy to use your locator service. Sometimes it takes a while for people to make up their minds to make themselves available to others.I prefer to meet people the old fashioned way -- through interaction in the course of my daily life or through other friends.

the locater sends someone in the database a message that contains the persons email address and a short introduction. It is then up to you whether or not you want to make contact with them. They have no idea what your email address is.You see, I thought about this a bit. :)

You give it up to facebook, twitter, your bank, the Obama campaign, to Amazon, to a huge number of business entities, yet you are afraid to give it up to a Buddhist?This database is in the state of evolution and will only be improved over time, but what I can guarantee is that it will never be sold to anyone. You can't say that for Amazon or any other entity out there. If they can make a buck off it, sold to the highest bidder!However, can you imagine the possibilities of having such a database to the Nichiren community? Especially to the Independents and smaller sects, it can be an invaluable communication tool. So maybe you get an email saying that Rev. Tsuchiya (Kempon Hokke) is coming to your state and will be talking at such and such a place, or that we are planning a meeting in Colorado Springs at the Garden of the Gods for a Higan-e ceremony in the fall. Would that kill you? Ever been to the Garden of the Gods in the Springs? It's absolutely beautiful and I've wanted to have a meeting there for a long time. Maybe it will happen.And then maybe, once in a lifetime you get an email from a Nichiren Buddhist asking what you know about where they are moving to. Would that kill you also?But you willingly give it up to businesses that have only one motivation!My motivation is pure and it cannot be corrupted!

Markp, I hear often from people that they would post comments on BuddhaJones...BUT they don't want to create an account using their e-mail address. Whatever. People have their reasons. I figure people will sign up and comment when/if the time is right for them.I'm sure your database is airtight and hack-proof and great and all, but as I said earlier in my comment which you call my "bitch", I don't think I'll be signing up. Why not? For reasons I decline to state here. You can harangue me and harass me about it if you want, but I'm not signing up. Don't take it personally.

I'm just trying to figure out why people won't signup, and I don't take it personally. If it grows, it grows, and it's not like it's costing me much to run the service since I have my own server anyway.

For some reason, the registration keeps rejecting my email address.  It is the one I use here and on the Nichiren Sangha, but the registration keeps saying it is an invalid address........BTW, for anyone who wishes to remain otherwise anonymous, you can always create an email address just for this, on yahoo, gmail, or a number of other sites.  This email address doesn't need to be connected to anything else in your online life unless you wish it to be.

Is it the same one you use at the Sangha? If so I can check it out. I'm using a pretty complex piece of perl regular expressions to validate email addresses, so I will have a look at that code.If it is different then send me a pm at the Sangha.

Fixed it Mike. Try it again.

OK, Mark - that worked.

Mark,Thanks for creating the locator.  I know that you and I can't possibly be the only ones in North Texas.

we aren't the only ones, but I'm getting it out there with a google adwords campaign starting monday. I thank everyone that have signed up to date. It looks better if there are actually other people signed up when someone goes in. :)

The Nichiren Buddhist Locater service is growing. It now posts to twitter every time someone joins, and I was even able to meet up with another Independent inmy area shortly after it went live. We are going to have dinner on the 6th, and I just had another thought that this service can actually create community in your area.Sign up at http://nblocater.org